Who they are

Microsoft is probably the biggest name in the software industry. It comes as no surprise that Microsoft has a significant stake in the world of content management as well. Microsoft’s Sharepoint Suite is designed to meet any and all content management needs. Businesses that use Microsoft Sharepoint can also enjoy streamlined workflows, secure information exchange and an optimized business from end to end.

What they do

In response to these global challenges, the company offers Microsoft Dynamics, a suite of integrated, adaptable business applications for small and medium-sized organizations and divisions of large enterprises. These integrated solutions—delivered through a worldwide network of experienced Microsoft Certified Partners—work like and with familiar Microsoft software and help automate and improve financial, customer relationship, and supply chain management.

Satisfied Customers

Monsanto, Mary Kay, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Del Monte Foods, London Stock Exchange, Ministry of Agriculture–France, Scripps Research Institute, Dolby Laboratories, Glu Mobile, TV Guide Online

Content Management Product(s)

• SharePoint Server 2010
• SharePoint Server 2007
• SharePoint Designer
• Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

Product Key Features

Document Management

• Lets organizations organize and classify the content within a Document Center site to provide a consistent method for organizing, categorizing, navigating through, and quickly searching for information.
• Helps companies safeguard documents with integrated rights management that travels with documents wherever they may go when they are downloaded from a site. Businesses can specify user access rights for individual items in a library.
• With built-in document workflows, organizations can initiate, track, and collaborate on document-oriented processes directly from 2007 Office release desktop programs. Workflow task information is displayed in the desktop program, helping to ensure that the workflow participants follow the workflow steps properly.

Web Content Management

• Business groups can create and publish Web content in a timely manner with easy-to-use authoring tools and integrated workflows.
• Companies can provide approved master pages and page layouts that enable branding and navigation of the site to be specified once and reused by content authors.
• Customers can implement a single multitier infrastructure for publishing content to intranet, extranet, and Internet sites.

Content Management Technology

Microsoft’s Office SharePoint Server 2007 is built on a scalable architecture, with support for Web services and interoperability standards including XML and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). Office SharePoint Server 2007 also has rich, open application programming interfaces (APIs) and event handlers for lists and documents. This enables integration with existing systems and provides the flexibility to incorporate new non-Microsoft IT investments. LDAP integration support for other pluggable authentication providers makes it easier to work with non–Active Directory sources. Out-of-the-box WSRP Consumer Web Part enables integration with other WSRP-compliant portal solutions.

Bottom Line

Microsoft understands that manufacturing is still a major engine in today’s economy. And it knows the fundamental success factors in this industry remain constant: produce the right products—in the right quantities, at the right time, with good quality, and at a price the customer is willing to pay. However, flexibility and continuous improvements are also imperative.

Success includes the flexibility to respond to emerging markets, such as today’s growth opportunities in China and Eastern Europe, and to the ever-changing needs of the customers. Capitalizing on these opportunities and demands involves quickly adapting to new approaches, trading partners, and procurement strategies.